Method and apparatus for quieting turbulence in a gas flow line valve

Abstract

A set of tubes, having inlets and outlets, is placed on the downstream side of a modulating flow regulator or valve in a gas flow line. The inlet tubes collect all the gas flow in the tubes. The tubes bend gently and redirect the gas flow so that gas turbulence is reduced. The tubes are grouped as a bundle downstream and position the set of tube outlets so that downstream flow is less noisy and less turbulent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A noise suppression system in a gas flow line comprising: a valve housing containing a noise creating member, said valve housing adapted to be located along the gas flow line;   a plurality of tubes disposed within said valve housing and having inlet and outlet ends, wherein said inlet ends are located immediately downstream of said noise creating member;   wherein said inlet ends collectively have sufficient cross-sectional area to, and are positioned to, intercept all of the gas flow past said noise creating member;   wherein said plurality of tubes are configured to converge with each other; and   wherein said plurality of tubes are all parallel to one another and to said gas flow line proximate to said outlet ends.   
     
     
       2. The noise suppression system of claim 1, further comprising potting disposed between said tubes. 
     
     
       3. The noise suppression system of claim 2, wherein said potting consists of epoxy resin. 
     
     
       4. The noise suppression system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of tubes are flared at an angle proximate to said inlet openings, and said plurality of tubes extend at least partially beyond said valve housing proximate to said outlet openings. 
     
     
       5. A noise suppression system in a gas flow line comprising: a valve housing containing a noise creating member, said valve housing adapted to be located along the gas flow line;   a plurality of individual flow paths, each having an inlet end and an outlet end, said flow paths disposed about and emanating from said noise creating member., said flow paths having sufficient cross-sectional area to intercept all of the gas flow past said noise creating member, and said flow paths configured to converge and be parallel with one another proximate to said outlet ends of said flow paths; and   wherein said outlet ends terminate at an outlet end of the valve housing.   
     
     
       6. The noise suppression system of claim 1, wherein said inlet ends are arranged to receive a gas flowing radially outwardly from said noise creating member, said noise creating member being circular in shape. 
     
     
       7. The noise suppression system of claim 6, wherein said circular noise creating member has an axis perpendicular to said gas flow line.